Saturday, February 25, 2006

For those of you who haven't noticed, I've been posting mainly during the day.

This is because my home network, (and more specificallythe router) has crashed, meaning we had to swap to a new one, meaning our usb wireless radio adapters dont work with the new router, meaning we have to get new ones....

Dad has just ordered them, so I won't be back on the net till Tuesday evening at the earliest.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

I understand it's half term, I even appreciate it's hard bringing up kids...

BUT

If you're going to bring them in, please control them!! Running around screaming at a plus 20 decibel level and bending all the cards back and throwing tantrums is not what I consider dignified behaviour.

You gave birth to them, it was ur decision to have them in the first place. You can take responsibility for them.

I know you can...

*sighs dramatically at the ruins of his shop*

*starts printing the "your child and bookshop behaviour: things you should know" manual*

Monday, February 20, 2006

I've just got back not long ago from Romsey. If you read my blog, you'll know that my gf bought me train tickets down to visit her this weekend as her valentines present to me.

I had a FANTASTIC weekend, we went walking round Romsey where she lives, and she showed me round, and whilst doing that, we shopped for a special meal we were going to cook for ourselves together as a sort of valentines meal just for the two of us because we couldn't be together on the actual daywhen it happenned. It was REALLY nice, and I actually managed to cook!!

We had a main course and a dessert. For our main we had a Duck Stirfry, with the duck soaked in a honey/sesame oil/soy sauce marinade, with beansprouts, carrots, spring onion, and egg noodles, and some sort of chineese leaf. It was so easy to make and we both really liked it. For dessert we crushed some biscuits (the recipe said posh italian ones, but we used digestives lol) in a serving dish, then layered over the top of the biscuit base with a lemon cream, which was made out of whipped cream and lemon curd, (easyness!) and then covered with a layer of kiwi fruit, then another layer of cream, then kiwi fruit again. It was yummy!!

Once we'd prepared the meal, we set out the table and sat down to eat. We really worked well together in the kitchen, and our "kitchen compatability" for me was a pointer to something much deeper that happenned between us this weekend, as all saturday afternoon, (amidst cuddles and kisses) we talked about our dreams for the future and where we felt God was leading us, and just opening up to each other, which was very special.

I've felt with my previous relationships that I've rushed things, and to be honest they've not been very "adult" or mature relationships, mainly because of me. For the first time, I feel that Im getting to know another person really well, and the more I know, the more I love of her. We specifically both said that we weren't going to plan anything in terms of the relationship, but were going to see how it developed, and get to know each other really well. For me, it was a real watershed, as I got to spend time with her getting to know her on an emotional level that we haven't had time for before, and we both felt this weekend was really worth it.

We've both decided that frequent trips up or down to visit each other is gonna be the shape of this relationship for the foreseen future, as neither of us wants or has the conviction to move at the moment. We talked alot about the future, not in terms of where we want us to go, but more where we see God leading, and how uncertain it is.

It sounds strange, but now that we've defined where we both are, we both feel very happy about it, and while we'll miss each other in the inbetween times, when we do see each other, we make sure it's quality time we spend. I'm really looking forward to going down again in two weeks, this time for a whole week, as I've got time off work! Alice will be working still, but we will have most evenings together, and at least one day, and I can visit some freinds in Eastleigh during the day anyway. I'm really missing her already, it was nice to spend a day chilling out, and sharing our hearts and feelings with each other over a nice meal, and lots of cuddles and our own space without interruptions.

Anyway, I'll start gushing like a big girl if I go on, (lol) and as I've had a six hour train journey to get back, and am in work tommorrow, I'm off to go to bed before I embarrass myself and fall asleep on the keyboard!!

I'm really, really happy for once. :-)

Thanks hun, I had a great weeekend, and there's no one I'd rather have spent it with!

Punk music on estrogen. Often acoustic guitar with soft, high male vocals that dwell exessively on the singer's feelings, especially melancholy remembrances of past relationships/mistakes in life. A form of music that diverged from punk in the '80s, the name "emo" is derived from the emotive style of the lyrics and music. This genre has lately been marketed heavily by the music industry to teenagers with bands such as Dashboard Confessional and Taking Back Sunday, and has seen much commercial and mainstream success. The music has also spawned a subculture which conforms to certain conventions in dress such as tight sweatshirts, tight band T-shirts and horn-rim glasses. Adherents profess to exessively melancholy temperments. Males that adhere to the emo subculture are sometimes confused with metrosexuals; indeed the line between the two is somwhat blurred, though both groups claim to be intouch with their emotional side. The ephemeral and hackneyed nature of emo songwriting suggests that its audience will be restricted largely to teenagers. the genre suffers from a lack of credibility outside the aforementioned demographic group, much like current Nu Metal bands.

An entire subculture of people (usually angsty teens) with a fake personality. The concept of Emo is actually a vicious cycle that never ends, to the utter failing of humanity, and it goes something like this:

1. Girls say they like "sensitive guys" (lie)2. Guy finds out, so he listens to faggy emo music and dresses like a dork so chicks will see that he is sensitive and not afraid to express himself (lie). He dyes his hair black, wraps himself in a stupid looking scarf, develops an eating disorder, and rants about how "nobody understands".3. Now an emo guy, he meets Emo chick and they start dating, talking about how their well-off suburban lifestyles are terrible and depressing (lie)4. Emo guy is just too much of a pussy. His penis is too small, he's too depressed to bathe, and has more mood swings than emo chick, and he doesn't even have a menstrual cycle. Emo chick dumps him, saying "It's not you, it's me." (lie) as she drives off with Wayne, the school jock and captain of the football team.5. Emo guy goes home and cries, proceeds to write a weak song and strum a single string on his acoustic guitar. Another emo chick sees how he is so in touch with his feelings, and the cycle continues.

This is the sad truth of the emo lifestyle/music, and now that I look at how pathetic it really is, maybe the emos DO have something to cry about!

When she sees how sensitive and emo I have become, she'll definately go out with me!

I've sent off application forms for jobs recently, and I'm sitting around waiting to hear back from them.

I hate waiting.

Oh well, have to, no choice!!

It's quite a different step for me, one of the jobs is working in a Police call Centre, which would be completely different to what I'm doing now!! I keep reminding myself I have transferrable skills though...

It's at least 8 grand more than I'm on at the moment, which shows you just how poorly paid I am at my current job!!

Sunday, February 12, 2006

It's a bittersweet day. Part of me feels really miserable to match the weather cos my tooth is hurting, but the other part of me is glad to be inside, safe and warm and cosy, as the rain lashes the windows.

Feeling in an introspective mood again today, so really trying hard not to get all phsychological on myself, as I usually do. I can get very caught up in thinking about myself at times, and have noticed it loads lately, which is why I'm stopping this train of thought after this sentence!!

Right.

I've got to pretend to be young again tonight, as I've been asked to do ten minutes at the after church youth group. I've got the uneviable subject of (wait for it) ...

"Who Is Cain?".

Hmmm.

Not much to go on there.

I used my massive comprehensive NLT Concordance, and looked up all the references to him, and have read the story of Cain and Abel in different translations just to make sure I've got the gist. I'm not feeling particularly inspired to be honest, but they've only asked for 5-10 mins, so that's ok.

You scored as Chalcedon compliant. You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

I was speaking to Ali tonight, (she of the blog, you know my gf) and I was trying to tell a joke that I found hysterically funny....

Ok so I broke down literally screaming and crying with laughter and had to hand the ohone to my dad for him to tell it because I was trying to breathe lol

Then my dad gets to the line before the puunch line and loses it himself because he heard me tell it earlier on in the evening and knows I can't get through it lo

Then my mum hears me and my dad SCREAMING with laughter like 5yr olds and comes out to see what's going on...

Yes you've guessed it.

The contagiousness of me and my dad, helpless literally on the floor, gasping for breath and trying to speak admidst great gales of laughter with tears running down our cheeks, set my mum off.

This is bad, because as any member of my family knows, once you get my mum and me going, the whole neighbourhood knows about it.

I had to apologise profusely amidst screams and ring her back, cos at that stage, me, my dad AND my mum were in a heap on the floor of the hallway, trying to catch our breath and literally holding our sides because they were hurting so much. Everytime we managed to stop laughing, one of us would try to suppress a giggle, and we'd all start up again lol lol lol

That was the best 15 minutes of my life I've had for a long time, and my gf now thinks my family is officially nuts lol

It's actually true!

(Disclaimer: although this actually happenned tonight, I cannot claim the joke to actually be that funny, we were all very tired is all I can say! lol - It's the joke posted below)

Friday, February 10, 2006

A couple go for a meal at a Chinese restaurant and orders the "Chicken Surprise." The waiter brings the meal, served in a lidded cast iron pot. Just as the wife is about to serve herself, the lid of the pot rises slightly and she briefly sees two beady little eyes looking around before the lid slams back down. "Good grief, did you see that?" she asks her husband. He hasn't, so she asks him to look in the pot. He reaches for it and again the lid rises, and he sees two little eyes looking around before it slams down. Rather perturbed, he calls the waiter over, explains what is happening, and demands an explanation. "Please sir," says the waiter, "what you order?" The husband replies, "Chicken Surprise." Ah ... so sorry," says the waiter, "I bring you Peeking Duck"ROFL ROFL!!

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Anyway, extra-ordinary normal service will resume from tonight after work.

For those of you who have sleep problems, I'll let you know briefly what i did on my day off yesterday:

I went to the gym and cycled for two and a half hours whilst listening to a sermon on my ipod. I sat in the sauna and steam room for 20 minutes, trying to unwind my aching calf muscles. (click on the Mars Hill link on my blogroll, you can download the sermons I listen to free from there)

I got back home and proceeded to watch Prisoner Of Azkabhan (Harry Potter III) on DVD, and then Season one episodes 1-4 of Smallville.

I then tidied my room as we were having the energy and gas peole come have a look at the house. (NO I'm not talking about unfortunates with flatulence and lethargy issues, I mean the electricity people... NO, not superheroes, I mean.... Oh never mind.)

I then ate some tea and went to our Emerging Leaders Cell Group for some Bible Study/Discussion/Laughing/Drinking Coffee/Eating Pastries in that order.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

It arrived in the post on Friday night, and by Sunday evening I'd watched the whole series...

Lol.

I've got a problem Lol.

Anyway, apart from my obviously lacking social skills and my refusal to integrate into normal society and be "anti-social", I enjoyed it, but wasn't overly impressed.

For the first time EVER, I guessed how it was going to end, four episodes before it did. That's a bit dissapointing really, as I've come to expect a very high standard of 24.

I actually prefferrred season 3 over season 4, as I felt it had more plot twists and turns, and the whole "mole within CTU" thing which was used AGAIN in season four, is getting a bit of an old formula now. That said, I still think it was worth the 17 quid, the acting was brilliant, and I liked the new characters, particularly curtis and edgar. Without sapoiling it for those of you who havent watched it yet, the re-introduction of old well known characters was a brilliant idea, and it gave the story overall more depth.

Still think season 3 was better, but we'll wait and see whether season 5 can beat it. It's off to a good start in my book, as it follows on straight after season 4, and only a few months have passed, so the original and overarching theme

My 24 addiction feels satisfied now. I might even start the series all over again, and put on season 1!!

Im gonna go to bed now, as watching all those dvds, I thought I might as well have an early (ish) night.....

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

I have spent most of the last two days in work preparing for our stocktake at the end of the month, where we have to count everything in the store.

part of the preparation is reconciling the CD's. basically, when a CD comes in, we put the cases out on the stand, but keep the CD's in a plastic wallet somewhere else with a matching number on the back of the case and the wallet. Before every stocktake, we have to reconcile the number on the back of the CD with the number on the wallet, which is THE most time consuming and brain-numbingly boring job that is neccessary.

Due to comments left by my (ex) fans, I am returning with a vengeance.

I am in work, and I am blogging, which is dangerous and stupid. (I am on lunch btw, I'm not THAT rebellious)

In my disgust, I am taking a nazarene vow and not cutting my hair for at least the next three months. I may not even shave. I will, however, wash.

I have been instructed to "spark it up" and will henceforth respond in kind. My quick response commandos are already in place and all parameters of the target area have been intialised. (sorry, watched too much 24 this weekend) I am amped up, ready for the avalanche of new ideas and inspiration that will converge on this small yet significant space of the great cyberspehere.

In fact, I'm just about to post an intriguing piece of literary genius.

People Whos's Blogs I Read:

WISE PEOPLE:

"Jesus did not die at the hands of muggers, rapists, or thugs. He fell into the well-scrubbed hands of deeply religious people, society's most respected members." - Brennan Manning

"All religious and political systems, Right and Left alike, are the work of human beings. Abba's children will not sell their birthright for any mess of pottage, conservative or liberal. They hold fast to their freedom in Christ to live the gospel-uncontaminated by cultural dreck, political flotsam, and the filigreed hypocrisies of bullying religion." - Brennan Manning

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." ~ Albert Einstein

"To disagree with three-fourths of the British public on all points is one of the first elements of sanity." ~ Oscar Wilde

It is not economical to go to bed early to save the candles if the result is twins. ~Chinese Proverb

"The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes,
flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you.
Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes,
certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life."
- Robert Louis Stevenson

"Learn as if you were going to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
- Albert Einstein

"Great music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory with difficulty. Magical music never leaves the memory." - Sir Thomas Beecham

"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." - Winston Churchill

"If you want to know what a man is really like, take notice of how he acts when he loses money." - Simone Weil

"Economy is half the battle of life; it is not so hard to earn money as to spend it well." - C. H. Spurgeon

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13:4-8

"Why love if losing hurts so much? We love to know that we are not alone." - C. S. Lewis

"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference.
The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference.
And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference."
- Elie Wiesel
(Oct. 1986)

"To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved." - George MacDonald

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant." - Martin Luther King jr

"It is in deep solitude that I find the gentleness with which I can truly love my brothers. The more solitary I am the more affection I have for themÉ. Solitude and silence teach me to love my brothers for what they are, not for what they say." - Thomas Merton

""There are two kinds of people; those that finish what they start, and so on..." Robert Byrne

"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us
with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."
--Galileo Galilei